Economic damage from natural catastrophes is raising concern that some areas could be rendered uninsurable, according to Petra Hielkema, head of the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (Eiopa), quoted in the Financial Times (behind a paywall). “The EU suffered more than €50bn in economic losses from natural catastrophes in both 2021 and 2022, according to Eiopa data. That was more than three times the annual average in the previous decade.” Furthermore, only about a quarter of these economic losses are insured, leaving a huge “protection gap”. While there is much that can be done, the regulator is pushing for adaptation measures including making buildings and agriculture more resilient to flooding. Now let’s see much more done on mitigation to reduce these risks.
DWS, the German asset management company has just published a report giving their investor perspective on the EU’s Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the Energy Efficiency Directive. The first section of their report presents how energy efficiency is a cross asset class opportunity. The second section explains the investor implications of the updated Energy Performance in Buildings Directive while the third section focuses on the updated Energy Efficiency Directive. The report is part of their series on European Transformation.
As we prepare for COP29 in Azerbaijan in November, remember there is a global call to the UNFCCC to include cultural heritage, the arts and creative sectors in climate policy. Check out a music initiative to recognise the value of nature.
In upcoming weeks there are two events not to miss. In May there is Australia’s 2024 Energy Efficiency National Conference. In June, eceee holds its bi-annual summer study. It’s theme is “Sustainable, Safe and Secure Through Demand Reduction.” Check out details on the two events here.
In planning travel over the upcoming weeks, here is some useful news to help you along:
- The inews website provides Europe’s most exciting new rail routes for 2024
- For the best hikes in Europe in 2024, there are many good suggestions on the 57 hours website. For those who want to combine hiking with food and wine, check out the Hedonistic Hiking website.
- 5 stunning spring cycling destinations in Europe are recommended on the Get Your Guide website.
- There is always the option of virtual tourism at the Xplore Nature Channel. There are now 130 videos. Find out more about the channel here. Why not start with a virtual guided nature tour in Sweden over Svinö Island.
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770-1831), a German philosopher and one of the most influential figures of German idealism and 19th-century philosophy, gives us a perspective on today’s tumultuous world: “Genuine tragedies in the world are not conflicts between right and wrong. They are conflicts between two rights.”
EiD welcomes your views about this week’s selection of posts on the zero-carbon energy transition:
- Global Stocktaking on Sustainable Energy (SDG7)
- Britain’s energy transition: the concept of “net zero” has become a political slogan used to start a “dangerous” culture war over the climate
- Discussions underway to make COP29 and COP30 smaller
- Infrared fabric heat-emitting “wallpaper” avoids the disruption and expense of heat pumps
- Did the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings build momentum for transformative change in Africa?
- Paris Olympic Games have target to produce half the emissions of the Rio and London games
- With the right incentives in place by governments and the construction sector, almost all cement produced around the world could be low-carbon
- “The fossil fuel lobby is holding us back from negotiating a treaty that will end the plastics crisis”
Please send your comments on any of the posts. Please follow us on X at @EnergyDemand and @rodjanssen. Please recommend EiD to your friends and colleagues.
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Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 